Page 97 - A TALE OF TWO CITIES

A Tale of Two Cities

Growling, in addition, such phrases as ‘Ah! yes! You’re
religious, too. You wouldn’t put yourself in opposition to
the interests of your husband and child, would you? Not
you!’ and throwing off other sarcastic sparks from the

whirling grindstone of his indignation, Mr. Cruncher
betook himself to his boot-cleaning and his general
preparation for business. In the meantime, his son, whose
head was garnished with tenderer spikes, and whose young
eyes stood close by one another, as his father’s did, kept
the required watch upon his mother. He greatly disturbed
that poor woman at intervals, by darting out of his
sleeping closet, where he made his toilet, with a
suppressed cry of ‘You are going to flop, mother. —
Halloa, father!’ and, after raising this fictitious alarm,
darting in again with an undutiful grin.
Mr. Cruncher’s temper was not at all improved when
he came to his breakfast. He resented Mrs. Cruncher’s
saying grace with particular animosity.
‘Now, Aggerawayter! What are you up to? At it again?’
His wife explained that she had merely ‘asked a
blessing.’
‘Don’t do it!’ said Mr. Crunches looking about, as if he
rather expected to see the loaf disappear under the efficacy
of his wife’s petitions. ‘I ain’t a going to be blest out of

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